Mayo Clinic's approach
Your Mayo Clinic care team
Mayo Clinic doctors trained in diagnosing heart and blood vessel conditions (cardiovascular medicine) and surgery (cardiovascular surgeons) have expertise evaluating and treating all aortic conditions. These doctors and other specialists work together as a team to provide you with coordinated care.
Mayo Clinic surgeons have extensive experience performing complex procedures such as aortic surgery, including aortic root replacement and valve-sparing aortic root repair. Aortic specialists at Mayo Clinic evaluate people with aneurysms. This evaluation includes a thorough personal and family history, a detailed assessment to find the cause of an aneurysm, and a full evaluation for additional aneurysms. Your Mayo Clinic care team will work together to determine the best treatment and timing of surgery for you.
Consultation with genetic specialists and genetic testing is often recommended if you have other family members who have had an aneurysm or if you're younger than age 70 when an aortic aneurysm is detected.
Detailed diagnosis
Thoracic aortic aneurysm
Thoracic aortic aneurysm
A thoracic aortic aneurysm is a weakened area in the upper part of the body's main blood vessel (aorta). Aneurysms can develop anywhere in the aorta.
Mayo Clinic doctors use detailed imaging tests, such as transesophageal echocardiogram, CT coronary angiogram and magnetic resonance angiogram to diagnose aortic aneurysms. These imaging tests are also used to look for tears in the inner layer of the aortic wall (aortic dissection) and determine the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
Advanced treatment
Mayo Clinic offers several types of aortic root surgery, including aortic valve and root replacement and valve-sparing aortic root repair, in which the aortic valve remains in place.
Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement: What Patients Need to Know
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons have expertise and experience evaluating and treating all aortic conditions. Mayo cardiac surgeons perform more than 4,500 cardiac surgeries each year.
Nationally recognized expertise
Mayo Clinic campuses are nationally recognized for expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery:
- Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
- Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2022–2023 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.
Learn more about Mayo Clinic's cardiovascular surgery and cardiovascular medicine departments' expertise and rankings.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:
Costs and insurance
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.
In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals, or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.
Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.